Herrera leads Bats in late rally

Louisville, Ky. - The first game of the three-game set between the Louisville Bats (18-33) and the Gwinnett Stripers (24-28) was evenly matched as the pitchers limited offensive opportunities and sharp displays of fielding continued from inning to inning. The Louisville Bats clinched the win, 3-1, as the offense got swinging in the eighth inning to steal their second win in a row at Louisville Slugger Field.

Louisville starter, Justin Nicolino delivered an extremely strong outing. He went seven innings, allowing six hits with only one earned run while walking one and striking out four on 91 pitches (63 strikes). Tonight marks the third consecutive quality start for Louisville starting pitchers for the first time this season with Anthony DeSclafani and Robert Stephenson also performing solidly this week. Domingo Tapia (3-3, 2.93) earned the win in relief, going one inning allowing one hit.
Gwinnett right-hander, Evan Phillips (2-3, 1.98) recorded the loss, pitching one inning while allowing two earned runs on three hits.
 
The Bats would strike first in the bottom of the opening inning. Dilson Herrera led off with a double to reach second and then D.J. Peterson followed suit, smashing another double to score Herrera and make it 1-0.
The Stripers threatened in the third with runners at second and third as result of a fielding error followed by a double to right field but Nicolino worked around it by dealing his fourth strikeout of the night.
It was not until the fourth that the Stripers responded. With runners at first and third and despite a textbook double play, Rio Ruiz connected for a ground out to score Carlos Franco and even it 1-1.
The eighth inning ultimately solidified the Louisville win. Shortstop Blake Trahan singled, followed by another single by Hernan Iribarren. With that hit, Iribarren recorded his 400^th hit as a Louisville Bat and is just the 6^th Louisville player to have done so. With runners on first and second, Dilson Herrera proved to be the silver lining. Smashing a base hit to center field, Trahan and Iribarren both ran home to make the score 3-1 and clinch the game.
Tonight's win marks the second consecutive home win for the Bats. The home series against the Stripers continues Saturday night at Louisville Slugger Field with Louisville starter, José López (1-5, 4.63) going head to head with Gwinnett lefty Max Fried (1-2, 3.80). First pitch is set for 7 p.m.